Rational Security 2.0: The ‘We Hear The Hague is Lovely in the Springtime’ Edition
Published by The Lawfare Institute
in Cooperation With
This week, Alan, Quinta and Scott were joined by international law expert Chimene Keitner to hash through some of the week's big national security news, including:
- “Go Straight to Den Haag, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200.” In recent days, Russia’s already illegal war in Ukraine has begun to cross more and more legal lines, as Russian forces seem to clearly be targeting civilians and even removing them from Ukrainian territory. What avenues might there be for holding them accountable for these actions? And where should these efforts fit into the broader effort to end the conflict?
- “The 400-Pound Hacker in the Room.” Three weeks into the war in Ukraine, Russia has yet to target the United States and its allies with cyberattacks. But this week the White House is aggressively hinting that that may be about to change. Why would the Russians choose now to act? And what should we expect?
- “Third-Wave Pessimism.” There are signs that a new wave of the coronavirus may be headed our way. But that didn’t stop Congress from cutting the Biden administration’s request for pandemic resources by $15 billion as mask mandates and other measures have been continually rolled back. How should we be preparing? And what explains Congress’s response?
For object lessons, Alan endorsed the mind-bending new show Severance on (literally) separating work life and home life. Quinta gave a positive review of the new coming-of-age movie Turning Red. In honor of springtime, Scott passed along his favorite warm weather drink option. And Chimene shared a photo of her grandparents and a story of her family's own experience with being refugees from a Russian invasion.
Jen Patja is the editor and producer of the Lawfare Podcast and Rational Security. She currently serves as the Co-Executive Director of Virginia Civics, a nonprofit organization that empowers the next generation of leaders in Virginia by promoting constitutional literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement. She is the former Deputy Director of the Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier and has been a freelance editor for over 20 years.
Alan Z. Rozenshtein is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota Law School, a senior editor at Lawfare, and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Previously, he served as an Attorney Advisor with the Office of Law and Policy in the National Security Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.
Quinta Jurecic is a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a senior editor at Lawfare. She previously served as Lawfare's managing editor and as an editorial writer for the Washington Post.
Scott R. Anderson is a fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a Senior Fellow in the National Security Law Program at Columbia Law School. He previously served as an Attorney-Adviser in the Office of the Legal Adviser at the U.S. Department of State and as the legal advisor for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
Chimène Keitner is Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at the University of California Davis School of Law. She is a leading authority on international law and civil litigation, and served as the 27th Counselor on International Law in the U.S. Department of State.
